South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-10-28
A WAR STORY.
The Young Confederate Soldier
Who Was Lost at Gettysburg.
His Fate a Mystery For Twenty
Four Years.

A recent letter from Raleigh, n. c.,
to the st. Louis Globe Democrat says:
One Of the romances of the war has just
developed here, in which the only son OF
| one of North Cardinals governors
! figures. Governor Tod r. Caldwell dur
ing the war resi- led in handsome style at
the quiet little town of Morganton. OF
an old and honored family, he had but
one object of intense affection-his son,
John--a handsome lad not 90 years of
age. In the winter of 1862 this only son
begged to be allowed to go to the army.
Entreaties were Of no avail, and his
father and his mother at last consented,
with tears, that he might join the Army
OF Northern Virginia He enlisted in
the 33d Regiment of North Carolina In
fantry, in Lanes Brigade, Pender's Di-
vision, A. p. Hills Corps.
When the campaign opened in 1868 no
soldier was more daring than young
Caldwell, and he was soon promoted
from the ranks. In May he was made a
second lieutenant for his gallant and
meritorious conduct. His regiment
went into the Pennsylvania campaign.
At Gettysburg he was present and in the
hottest of the fight On the afternoon
of July 3, 1863, his regiment swept ND
slope within fifty yards of the Federal
lines, went closer yet, and bayorets
were crossed Suddenly the line moved
back little. Young Caldwell was
never seen alive after that moment. He
was at the front when the backward
movement began. His father used all
the influences of money and position to
find the lost soldier, but unavailingly.
The authorities refused to allow the
graves to be opened. 1t could not be
ascertained whether he was dead or
ahve, and the matter became one of the
most terrible uncertainties. Under the
strain the minds of the father and mother
were nearly overcome. The father
grimly nursing his great sorrow, for
babe any one to mention the sons name,
and the terrible story was never alluded
to, even by the mother.
In 1871 General Caldwell became
governor of the state. Two years later
in 1878, an ex-Confederate soldier
named Lucas, from Hyde county, was
elected to the legislature, and came to
Raleigh. Some one told him one night
the sad story of the death, or, supposed
death, and mystery of John Caldwell.
The next day Lucas called on the Gov
ernor and told him the truth at last
Lucas was in another regiment, and had
observed young Caldwelrs brave bear
ing, as they were near together. In the
terrible moment of the rcpulsc he had
seen young Caldwell shot down while
separated from his men and fighting.
hand to hand, New York soldier
After hearing this story and the further
details of the burial of Caldwell by
I-Iucls, the Governor locked himself in
his room and was all day in tears. He
never told his wife of the revelation by
Lucas, and told it only to his private
secretary.
A few days ago Major Charles w.
Cowtan Of New York City wrote your
correspondent saying that he had in his
possession the commission Of an officer
In North Carolina regiment, which he
had picked up on the battlefield of Get
tysburg. His regiment, the 10th New
York, held the line at chat point. Just
alter terrible charge by the North
Carolinians, in which one fair-haired
and boyish officer was brave in the ex-
treme. Major Cowtan had examined
some OF the dead Confederates. who so
thickly strewed the grounds at the
works, and near one found torn and
bloody commission, on which was legi-
BILE only "John Ca Of the name.
Major Cowtan expressed desire TO re-
turn this commission if any relatives of
the dead soldier could be found. The
commission was found to be that of the
long-lost John Caldwell. The commits
sion was sent Mrs Caldwell. and this
blood-stained and torn piece of parch-
ment Is, she writes, all there is on earth
to remind her Of the dead son. For
year, she cherished the hope that her
son was alive and in some prison. In
fact, all the prisons were searched for
him through the influence Of Governor
(now SENATOR Vance. IL has required
twenty-four years to ascertain the true
story. At the same time the commits
sion was sent her she was first made ac-
quainted with the facts told Governor
Caldwell in 1873.